Telephone device with enhanced audio-visual features for interacting with nearby displays and display screens

ABSTRACT

A telephone device is used to establish two-way communication with a remotely located entity, or to transfer content from a display screen of the telephone device to a nearby display screen for full viewing of the content. The two-way communication is initiated by an object emitting a signal containing a telephone number to the telephone device, which, in turn, automatically dials the telephone number. Alternatively, the object emits a signal containing an electronic address to a telephone device, which, in turn, automatically goes to the electronic address. Transfer of content also is achieved by transmitting an electronic address of content shown on a telephone device display screen to a nearby device which retrieves the content and then displays it on the nearby display screen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/211,596 filed Jun. 15, 2000, entitled “TELEPHONE WITHENHANCED AUDIO-VISUAL FEATURES FOR INTERACTING WITH NEARBY DISPLAYS ANDDISPLAY SCREENS.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Present Invention

[0003] An appliance acts as a wireless phone, a TV remote, and anautomatic dialer of phone numbers (or web sites) displayed on the TV.

[0004] 2. Background

[0005] Prototypes of “interactive TV” have required that the home usersinput data solely in the form of finger clicks (either on a device likea TV remote control or on a device like a keyboard). Some of thekeyboards are tethered to the TV (or to a set-top box, also referred tobelow as a “SetTop box”). Others communicate with the TV (or set-topbox) in a wireless manner.

[0006] These prototypes have created output solely through the TV(monitor and speakers). Most frequently, the output is merely anincreased variety of TV style programming (i.e., more TV channels). Morerecently, the output has been Internet web style programming (i.e.,turning the TV into a web browser and e-mail client), which may includeweb style interactive activities (e.g., “surfing”, “voting”, or“purchasing”).

[0007] These prototype devices have not had deep market penetrationdespite heavy marketing efforts. Some analysts have claimed that thesupposed interactivity interfered with the desired passive viewingexperience of the TV medium. Others acknowledged that today's web styleexperiences are not as visually rich as the current TV medium.

[0008] However, for decades, much of TV advertising has tried to get TVviewers to pick up a telephone and call a phone number displayed on theTV in order for the viewer to receive more information or purchasesomething. Many people have a hard time watching two things at once, butexperience no difficulty watching one thing while listening to another(e.g., talking on a cell phone while driving). Television shows havesuccessfully had viewers call in. Examples include Muscular Dystrophyfundraisers, talk shows, and shopping channels such as Home ShoppingNetwork. Some of these formats even broadcast incoming phone calls onthe air during the shows. This style of interactivity has beensuccessful and an accepted part of the TV experience.

[0009] In addition, recent cellular phones have added a variety ofcapabilities including Internet access. Some cell phones can be used topay vending machines (i.e., the user's phone interacts with a sodavending machine so that the soda is paid for by a charge to the user'scredit card).

[0010] Currently, some cell phones incorporate other electronictechnologies. For example, some cell phones include pager technologywhich enables these phones to act as one-way or two-way pagers. Othercell phones provide the capabilities of a handheld Personal DigitalAssistant (“PDA”). A handheld PDA provides a variety of capabilitieswhich nonetheless fall short of a fully featured computer. PDAcapabilities differ from one manufacturer to another, but usuallyinclude some of the following: an electronic address book (sometimeswith automatic phone dialing), a calendar with scheduling software, a“to do” list, an electronic note pad for text and sketches, a voicerecorder, a multi-media playback device for music or video, a digitalcamera, etc. As an example of the convergence of telephone and PDAcapabilities, Qualcomm markets a combination cell phone and PDA which isbased upon the best selling Palm Pilot PDA. As another example,HandSpring markets a PDA (the “Visor”) that allows a plug-in card totransform the PDA into a cell phone.

[0011] The size of a hand-held telephone, however, limits the size ofany viewing screen it incorporates. This has limited the amount and typeof data that can be displayed. Pictures, graphics and large amounts oftext are difficult to view and read. Such constraints have limited theusefulness of such Internet connections on cell-phones, especially ifthe screen is smaller than the screen on a PDA. Information that can berelayed by short text, such as e-mail or stock price, drives the currentmarket for such devices and services. But such devices have not beenaccepted as a general method of “surfing” the Internet.

[0012] Current technology for computer pointer devices no longerrequires that a cable connect the pointer device (e.g., a mouse or trackball) to the computer. Instead, current technology enables the pointerdevice to communicate with the computer in a wireless manner (e.g., byusing a Microsoft wireless mouse). Current pointer technology does notrequire that the pointer device rest on a solid surface. Examplesinclude not only hand held controllers for video games, but also “3dimensional” mice, which use gyroscopic and other internal devices tosense the extent and direction which a mouse is moved in the air (e.g.,Diamond Multimedia GyroMouse).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention combines a wireless phone with a TV remote(referred to below as a “TV Phone” or a “telephone device”) in thefollowing manner. When an advertisement comes on the TV requesting theviewer to call a phone number, the viewer clicks a button on the TVPhone and the call is automatically placed. The user then talks into theTV Phone for the desired purpose (e.g., getting information, giving anopinion, purchasing a product). Different TV “channels” (whether TVstyle, or Internet style) can be chosen in two manners: by clicking on abutton located on the TV Phone or by talking into a TV Phone equippedwith a built in speech-to-text voice recognition system.

[0014] In some embodiments, the TV Phone acts as a “picture phone,”transmitting video along with the audio.

[0015] In some embodiments, the phone number or access code is displayedon a real world object other than a TV, such as a billboard, acommercial sign, a printed page (e.g., a magazine), or the like. Thereal world object includes a wireless transmitter that transmits thephone number or access code to the TV Phone.

[0016] In some embodiments, the TV Phone allows the user to surf theInternet using his or her TV Phone, and transmit data to a nearbytelevision screen or computer screen to be displayed.

[0017] Instead of having an advertisement (or accompanying anadvertisement) appear on the screen, an icon or phone number appears onthe screen indicating that a phone call would provide more informationabout a sports event, news show, product placement, soap opera plotline, etc. Other icons indicate web page information that can beaccessed by the device.

[0018] The present invention allows a natural verbal and auralinteractivity without breaking up the expected linearity of TVprogramming. It also allows this interactivity without majortelecommunications infrastructure upgrades (e.g., broadband homeservices through two-way cable systems, fiber optics or DSL systems).

[0019] In the preferred embodiment, in addition to the television, thereis a set-top box which has three inputs (a standard phone line, a cablefrom the television and a wireless receiver) and a TV Phone. The TVPhone is a cordless phone with a base station in the set-top box. Thephone line is the input and output for the telephone portion of the TVPhone. The cable from the television is used to send the signal from theTV blanking interval to the set-top box. Similar to closed captioningfor the deaf, this signal transmits data to the set-top box. Here, thedata is the telephone number that a TV advertisement or announcementasks the viewer to call.

[0020] When the viewer wants to call that number, he or she clicks on abutton on the TV Phone. Like other remote controls, this sends awireless signal to the set-top box. The wireless signal may be aninfrared signal, but could be another form of wireless (or even wired)signal. The set-top box is sent the proper phone number via the cablefrom the TV and the set-top box dials that number.

[0021] In an alternative embodiment, the set-top box does not have aphone line, but uses the capacity of a two way cable system attached tothe television.

[0022] In an alternative embodiment, the set-top box does not have aphone line, but is the transmitting and receiving station for a cellularor wireless phone.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment, the set-top box transmits the phonenumber to the TV Phone, and the TV Phone contains a cell phone orwireless phone which dials the number directly. In this embodiment, theTV Phone need not transmit anything to the set-top box to make the phonecall. The set-top box is continuously broadcasting the requisite phonenumber, and the TV Phone button that is clicked just causes automaticdialing. (However, the TV Phone may have to transmit data to the set-topbox if the device includes web surfing options discussed below.)

[0024] In an alternative embodiment, the wireless transmitter is builtinto the TV and is not a separate set-top box.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment, the TV Phone does not operate as aTV remote control, but can just launch the automatic dialing.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the phone number is not transmittedover the blanking interval. Rather, the set-top box transmits whichstation is being viewed (or the phone number for the station beingviewed) and the TV Phone, when activated, dials the station's phonenumber. The station knows which phone number is being shown on thebroadcast (e.g., by having simultaneous input from the station of thenumber, or by referring to a database with “playlists”) and forwards thephone call to that number.

[0027] In an alternative embodiment, the set-top box dials the stationnumber (or sends a signal on a two-way cable) and that call is forwardedto the phone number shown on the TV.

[0028] In an alternative embodiment, the phone call is not forwarded,but is logged, and the calling device hangs up. Then, the phone call isreturned (from the appropriate party) to the TV Phone either directly orthrough the set-top box.

[0029] In some applications, talk over the TV Phone is the only desiredcommunication. In other applications, alphanumeric buttons on the phonecan be used (as in phone tree routing) or the other buttons on the TVPhone may signal acceptance, denial or other action.

[0030] In some applications, input from the TV Phone has no effect uponthe video and audio displayed on the TV. In other applications, inputfrom the phone may cause a change in the video and audio displayed onthe TV, e.g., cause transmission of pay per view movie, cause a signalthat enables the set-top box to descramble a pay per view movie orchannel (while charging the user's account or credit card), cause the TVto display an Internet web page, etc.

[0031] In some applications, only verbal input from TV Phone completes apurchase or gives out a credit card number. In other applications, thesetransactions are automated by clicking a button. This automation mayoccur by pre-installing the credit card number on the TV Phone, or by“escrowing” it with the selling entity (compare to accounts that userscan set up at amazon.com). The automated buying may be accomplished byautomatically billing the item to the user's phone number, as with 900numbers.

[0032] In an alternative embodiment, regular cell phones include extracircuitry so that they become TV Phones. When such a TV phone-enabledcell phone is in the presence of a TV Phone set-top box (or a TV withsuch a set-top box built into it), these cell phones act as a TV Phoneand TV remote.

[0033] Many cell phones are now becoming Internet enabled, with tinyscreens that transmit modified web pages. In an alternative embodiment,these web-enabled cell phones include extra circuitry so that theybecome TV Phones (“Web-Cell-TV phone”). When in the presence of a TVPhone set-top box (or a TV with such a set-top box built into it), asimple click on one of the TV Phone buttons places the web pagecurrently displayed on the Web-Cell-TV phone onto the TV screen. (Thisallows not only larger print but considerably more detail.) The user ofthe Web-Cell-TV phone navigates on this web page and around Internet(when web pages are displayed on the TV) by using the buttons on theWeb-Cell-TV phone Phone. Speech recognition software allows the user tonavigate the Internet by talking into the Web-Cell-TV phone.Hereinafter, the term “TV Phone” includes “Web-Cell-TV phone”.

[0034] In an alternative embodiment, the TV Phone may include some orall functions of a PDA. In this embodiment, the TV Phone may includesuch functions as an electronic address book (with or without automaticdialing), an electronic calendar with scheduling capabilities, a “to do”list, an electronic note pad, multi-media playback devices (e.g., forplaying audio including voice and music, video, games, IV broadcasts ornarrowcasts, radio broadcasts or narrowcasts, including pre-recorded andlive, previously downloaded and streaming, however transmitted, e.g.,using broadcast spectrum and over the Internet), a voice recorder andplayback device, a digital camera (for either still or moving pictures),a pager, etc. In one embodiment, these functions can be displayed onlyon the TV Phone. In another embodiment, these functions can be displayedonly on a TV with the requisite devices for communicating with the TVPhone. In another embodiment, these functions can be displayed both onthe TV Phone and on a TV with the requisite devices for communicatingwith the TV Phone. For the latter embodiments, pressing a button on theTV Phone (or issuing a voice command to it) causes the desired data orpictures to be displayed on a nearby TV screen.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment, the TV Phone contains motiondetection devices (such as gyroscopes) so that the TV Phone can operateas a pointing device (e.g., a 3D mouse) with respect to the display on anearby TV which has the requisite devices for communicating with the TVPhone. In this embodiment, if an Internet web page is displayed on theTV, the TV Phone can be used as a pointing device to navigate the pageand click on links. In this embodiment, if a data sheet is displayed onthe TV, the TV Phone can be used to navigate it, highlight words, cells,or other data objects for action. In this embodiment, if a picture isdisplayed on the TV, the TV Phone can click on particular portions ofthe picture when the portions are linked to hot spots or othertriggering devices (similar to hot spots on a web page graphic) whichmay trigger the placing of a phone call, the retrieval of a web page orother information, the purchase of an item, etc.

[0036] In an alternative embodiment, the TV Phone, instead ofinteracting as described above with a television set with a set-top box,interacts with a computer that has a TV tuner card or circuit. Thecomputer may, but need not, have an Internet connection.

[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the TV Phone, instead ofinteracting with a television set with a set-top box, interacts with acomputer that has a monitor, but no TV tuner circuit. This computer may,but need not, have an Internet connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The following detailed description of preferred embodiments ofthe present invention would be better understood when read inconjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustratingthe present invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments whichare presently preferred. However, the present invention is not limitedto the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In thedrawings:

[0039]FIG. 1A shows a functional flowchart and pictorial representationof one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0040]FIG. 1B shows a functional flowchart and pictorial representationof another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0041]FIG. 1C shows an outside view of the hand unit of a TV Phone.

[0042]FIG. 2 shows an outside view of a television set used with a TVPhone and a TV phone-SetTop Box used in conjunction with the televisionset and the TV Phone.

[0043]FIG. 3 shows the data flows associated with a preferred embodimentof the present invention, in which the TV Phone operates as a wirelesscellular phone.

[0044]FIG. 4 shows the data flows associated with an alternate preferredembodiment of the present invention in which the TV Phone operates as ahome cordless phone that connects wirelessly to a home base stationwhich is connected by wire to the phone system.

[0045]FIG. 5 shows the data flows associated with an alternateembodiment of the present invention, in which the TV Phone incorporatesa speech recognition module.

[0046]FIG. 6 shows the data flows associated with an alternateembodiment of the present invention which works in conjunction with aWebTV device.

[0047]FIG. 7 shows the data flows associated with an alternateembodiment of the present invention in which a WebTV device isincorporated into the TV Phone SetTop Box.

[0048]FIG. 8 shows the data flows associated with an alternateembodiment of the present invention in which a WebTV device isincorporated into the television receiver.

[0049]FIG. 9 shows the data flows associated with an alternateembodiment of the present invention in which television signals arereceived via a cable television network.

[0050]FIG. 10 shows the data flows associated with an alternateembodiment of the present invention in which a WebTV device isincorporated into the set-top box associated with the cable televisionnetwork.

[0051]FIG. 11 shows the data flows associated with an alternateembodiment of the present invention in which the TV Phone contains awireless spatial mouse that communicates with a WebTV type device.

[0052]FIG. 12 shows the data flows associated with an alternateembodiment of the present invention in which activation results in aphone call being placed by a telemarketer to the user, rather than theuser placing the call.

[0053]FIG. 13 shows the data flows associated with an alternateembodiment of the present invention in which activation results in aphone call being placed wirelessly from the telemarketer to the TVPhone.

[0054]FIG. 14 shows the data flows associated with an alternateembodiment of the present invention in which the TV Phone can transmitdata to a nearby television for display on the television's monitor.

[0055]FIG. 15 shows the data flows associated with an alternateembodiment of the present invention in which the TV Phone can transmitdata to a nearby kiosk for display on a television monitor of the kiosk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0056] Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and isnot to be taken as a limitation on the present invention.

Definitions

[0057] The following definitions are provided to promote understandingof the present invention.

[0058] telephone device—A telephone is an instrument that converts voiceand other sound signals into a form that can be transmitted to remotelocations and that receives and reconverts waves into sound signals. Thetelephone device described herein performs these conventional functionsof a telephone, and also includes enhanced functions which are activatedby one or more special or specified buttons. In some embodiments, thetelephone device may also transmit images, snapshots, or video. Thetelephone device is referred throughout the specification as a “TVPhone.”

[0059] button—In the present invention, the selection of a special orspecified button initiates an enhanced function. As used herein, thephrase, “selection of a button” includes selecting a single button,selecting a plurality of specified buttons that must be pressed in aspecific sequence, or the selection of a voice command that ispreprogrammed to be equivalent to the selection of a specified button orsequence of buttons.

[0060] electronic address—In the present invention, an electronicaddress may be an e-mail address, a web site, an ftp site, orequivalents thereof.

[0061] portion of content—In selected embodiments of the presentinvention, the telephone device includes a display screen that displayscontent. The content may be a portion of a full content image. As usedherein, the “portion of content” may be a truncated or cutoff version ofthe full content (e.g., cut off at one or more edges), a compressed orlow resolution version of the full content, a thumbnail or keyhole ofthe full content, a text-only version of visual or multi-media content,or the like.

Overview of Present Invention

[0062] The present invention provides many different embodiments of anenhanced telephone device, as discussed below.

[0063] I. Object emits signal containing a telephone number to atelephone device, which, in turn, automatically dials the telephonenumber.

[0064] A telephone device allows a user to communicate with a remotelylocated entity. The telephone device includes a button which facilitatescommunication between the telephone device and the remotely locatedentity, and a wireless receiver. In the broadest sense, the processoperates as follows:

[0065] 1. An object, or a device connected to an object, emits a signalcontaining a telephone number of the remotely located entity.

[0066] 2. The wireless receiver receives the signal emitted by theobject or the device connected to the object.

[0067] 3. The telephone device automatically establishes two-waycommunication with the remotely located entity upon selection by theuser of the button. Selection of the button causes the telephone deviceto automatically dial the telephone number of the remotely locatedentity.

[0068] The object may be an outdoor sign or billboard, thereby allowinga user to select one button on the telephone device to become instantly(or almost instantly) connected with the entity associated with theoutdoor sign or billboard.

[0069] The object may be a set-top box of a TV system. If so, then theset-top box receives the telephone number from broadcast signals sentover the TV system. The set-top box then emits a signal containing thetelephone number of the remotely located entity. In one systemconfiguration, the telephone device is a wireless telephone devicehaving a base station in the set-top box, and the set-top box ishardwired to a telephone outlet. In this configuration, the hardwiredtelephone outlet in the base station of the set-top box establishestwo-way communication with the remotely located entity. In anothersystem configuration, the telephone device is a cellular telephonedevice, and a cellular telephone network is used to establish two-waycommunication with the remotely located entity.

[0070] The automatic establishment of two-way communication with theremotely located entity may occur by having the telephone deviceautomatically dial the telephone number of the remotely located entity,and then communicating user identity information to the remotely locatedentity. The remotely located entity then uses the user identityinformation to initiate a call to the telephone device. In one preferredembodiment of the present invention, the user identity information isthe telephone number of the telephone device. Alternatively, the useridentity information may be a customer number or other customeridentifying information, and the remotely located entity may use adatabase or table lookup to locate the telephone number of the user toinitiate a call to the user's telephone device.

[0071] The user preferably engages in an audio session with a person ormachine at the remotely located entity upon establishing the two-waycommunication. In other instances, the session may be audiovisual.

[0072] The telephone device preferably includes transceiver circuitryassociated with normal telephone communication functions which isseparate from the wireless receiver. If so, then the two-waycommunication uses only the transceiver circuitry.

[0073] The device connected to an object may be a wireless transmitterconnected to a television. If so, then the television receives thetelephone number from broadcast signals received by the television, andthe wireless transmitter connected to the television emits a signalcontaining the telephone number of the remotely located entity.

[0074] II. Object emits signal containing an electronic address to atelephone device, which, in turn, automatically goes to the electronicaddress.

[0075] A telephone device allows a user to communicate with a remotelylocated entity. The telephone device includes a button which facilitatescommunication between the telephone device and the remotely locatedentity, and a wireless receiver. In the broadest sense, the processoperates as follows:

[0076] 1. An object, or a device connected to an object, emits a signalcontaining an electronic address of the remotely located entity.

[0077] 2. The wireless receiver receives the signal emitted by theobject or the device connected to the object.

[0078] 3. The telephone device automatically establishing communicationwith the remotely located entity upon selection by the user of thebutton. The selection of the button causes the telephone device toautomatically contact the electronic address contained within theemitted signal.

[0079] The electronic address may be a web site address of the remotelylocated entity. If so, then selection of the button causes the telephonedevice to automatically go to the web site address of the remotelylocated entity. The telephone device may further include a displayscreen that displays content. If so, then the web site of the remotelylocated entity displays content on the display screen retrieved by thetelephone device during the communication with the remotely locatedentity.

[0080] The automatic establishment of two-way communication with theremotely located entity may occur by having the telephone deviceautomatically dial the telephone number of the remotely located entityand communicate user identity information to the remotely locatedentity. The remotely located entity then uses the user identityinformation to initiate a call to the telephone device.

[0081] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the useridentity information is the telephone number of the telephone device.Alternatively, the user identity information may be a customer number orother customer identifying information, and the remotely located entitymay use a database or table lookup to locate the telephone number of theuser to initiate a call to the user's telephone device.

[0082] The telephone device preferably includes transceiver circuitryassociated with normal telephone communication functions which isseparate from the wireless receiver. If so, then the two-waycommunication uses only the transceiver circuitry.

[0083] III. Transmission of content shown on a telephone device displayscreen to a nearby display screen.

[0084] A telephone device is used to view content on a nearby displayscreen which is not physically connected to the telephone device. Thetelephone device includes a display screen which displays content, abutton which facilitates communication of content between the telephonedevice and a local control device connected to the nearby displayscreen, and a wireless transmitter. In the broadest sense, the processoperates as follows:

[0085] 1. Content is stored in the telephone device.

[0086] 2. The content is displayed on the display screen of thetelephone device.

[0087] 3. The content is communicated from the telephone device to thelocal control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter uponselection of the button.

[0088] 4. The local control device receives the signal and provides thecontent to the nearby display screen for display thereon.

[0089] The local control device may require the use of a decoder toconvert the signal received from the telephone device into a format forviewing by the nearby display screen.

[0090] The content shown on the telephone device display screen may be aportion of a full content image. If so, then the full content image isprovided to the local control device for display on the nearby displayscreen.

[0091] IV. Transmission of electronic address of content shown on atelephone device display screen to a nearby display screen (scheme 1)

[0092] A telephone device is used to view content on a nearby displayscreen which is not physically connected to the telephone device. Thetelephone device includes a display screen which displays content, or aportion thereof, a button which facilitates communication of contentbetween the telephone device and a local control device connected to thenearby display screen, and a wireless transmitter. In the broadestsense, the process operates as follows:

[0093] 1. Content, or a portion thereof, and an electronic address ofthe content are stored in the telephone device.

[0094] 2. The content, or a portion thereof, is displayed on the displayscreen of the telephone device.

[0095] 3. The electronic address of the content is communicated from thetelephone device to the local control device via a signal sent by thewireless transmitter upon selection of the button.

[0096] 4. The local control device receives the signal and transmits arequest over an electronic network to retrieve the content from a remotelocation.

[0097] 5. Upon receiving the content, the local control device providesthe content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.

[0098] The content shown on the telephone device display screen may be aportion of a full content image. If so, then the full content image isprovided to the local control device for display on the nearby displayscreen.

[0099] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, theelectronic address is a web site address, the remote location is a website, and the electronic network is the Internet.

[0100] In another preferred embodiment, the content, or a portionthereof, that is stored in the telephone device is retrieved from aremote source.

[0101] In yet another preferred embodiment, the local control devicefurther comprises a payment module which tracks usage charges forproviding content to the nearby display screen. In this scheme, thetelephone device communicates customer identity information, such as thetelephone number of the telephone device, to the payment module. Thepayment module inhibits the completion of the process unless the paymentmodule properly authorizes the telephone device to use the displayscreen for viewing content. In this embodiment, the local control devicemay be part of a kiosk having a large screen display for viewingcontent.

[0102] V. Transmission of electronic address of content shown on atelephone device display screen to a nearby display screen (scheme 2).

[0103] A telephone device is used to view content on a nearby displayscreen which is not physically connected to the telephone device. Thetelephone device includes a display screen which displays an electronicaddress of content, a button which facilitates communication of theelectronic address between the telephone device and a local controldevice connected to the nearby display screen, and a wirelesstransmitter. In the broadest sense, the process operates as follows:

[0104] 1. The telephone device retrieves an electronic address ofcontent from a remote source, and stores the electronic address in thetelephone device.

[0105] 2. The electronic address is displayed on the display screen ofthe telephone device. (In this scheme, content, or a portion thereof,associated with the electronic address is not necessarily displayed onthe display screen of the telephone device.)

[0106] 3. The electronic address is communicated from the telephonedevice to the local control device via a signal sent by the wirelesstransmitter upon selection of the button.

[0107] 4. The local control device receives the signal and transmits arequest over an electronic network to retrieve content at the electronicaddress from a remote location.

[0108] 5. Upon receiving the content, the local control device providesthe content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.

[0109] Scheme 2 may have a similar payment module and kiosk layout asthe scheme 1. Scheme 2 may also use a web site address as the electronicaddress.

[0110] VI. A telephone number is shown on display screen, and a wirelesstelephone device automatically dials the telephone number.

[0111] A wireless telephone device and a set-top box of a TV systemallow a user to communicate with a remotely located entity. The wirelesstelephone device includes a button which facilitates communicationbetween the telephone and the remotely located entity. The set-top boxincludes a base station of the wireless telephone device. The set-topbox is in communication with a telephone system and is also connected toa television. In the broadest sense, the process operates as follows:

[0112] 1. The set-top box stores a telephone number and causes telephonenumber information to be displayed on the television.

[0113] 2. Upon selection by the user of the button, the telephone devicesends a signal to the set-top box to dial the telephone number, therebyestablishing two-way communication between the telephone device and theremotely located entity via base station and the telephone system.

[0114] The user may engage in an audio session with a person or machineat the remotely located entity upon establishing the two-waycommunication.

[0115] In one preferred embodiment, the set-top box prestores a listingof telephone numbers corresponding to specified television stations, andthe dialed telephone number is the prestored telephone number of thecurrently active television channel. The television station mayautomatically forward any received telephone calls to a telephone numberof the remotely located entity.

[0116] The establishment of two-way communication with the remotelylocated entity may occur by the telephone device sending a signal to theset-top box to dial the telephone number of the remotely located entityand communicating user identity information to the remotely locatedentity, and the remotely located entity using the user identityinformation to initiate a call to the telephone device. The useridentity information may be the telephone number of the telephonedevice.

[0117] The telephone system is preferably external to the TV system, butmay alternatively be internal to the TV system. In either embodiment,the telephone system preferably uses the TV system for establishing andmaintaining the two-way communication.

[0118] The telephone number information may be a telephone number storedat the set-top box. Alternatively, the telephone number information maybe a telephone icon which indicates that the telephone number stored atthe set-top box will be dialed upon selection of the button. In yetanother alternative scheme, the telephone number information is thetelephone number stored at the set-top box and a telephone icon whichindicates that the telephone number stored at the set-top box will bedialed upon selection of the button.

[0119] The set-top box may receive the telephone number stored thereinfrom broadcast signals sent by the TV system.

Detailed Description

[0120]FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B provide self-explanatory summary overviews oftwo embodiments of the present invention, both of which are described inmore detail below with respect to the remaining figures. Thus, nodetailed descriptions are provided herein of these figures.

[0121] Referring to FIG. 1B, in an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, the TV phone acts as an input device (e.g., a mouse, pointingdevice, keyboard) to a WebTV-type device connected to the displayscreen.

[0122]FIG. 1C shows the hand unit of a TV Phone 101. Some of itsfeatures are similar to those of a standard wireless telephone such as amicrophone 117, a speaker 109, an alphanumeric keypad 119, a controlkeypad with SEND and RECEIVE keys 121, a power on and off switch 107, anantenna 105, an LCD panel 111. Special features of the TV Phone are anantenna 103 for communicating with the TV or set-top box and a specialTV Phone button 113. In an alternate embodiment, both antennae arecombined into one. In another alternate embodiment, the special TV Phonebutton is replaced by requiring the user to click on two standardbuttons at the same time or clicking on a sequence of standard buttons.Also shown is a special TV Internet button 115 which allows the TV Phoneto operate an Internet appliance which may be stand-alone, operating asa set-top box to the television, or integrated into the TV Phone set-topbox. In an alternate embodiment, this button 115 is eliminated or itsfunction is replaced by some other standard button or combination ofbuttons. In alternate embodiments, the special buttons 113 and 115 arereplaced by speech recognition software embedded in the TV Phone 101. Inalternate embodiments, some of these features may be eliminated, ortheir location moved or their size altered.

[0123]FIG. 2 shows a standard television 213, a TV Phone set-top box201, and a cable 211 for connecting them.

[0124] The standard television 213 in FIG. 2, includes a screen 221 forviewing, a speaker for listening 227, a jack for an earphone 225, apower on and off switch 233, buttons for changing channels 229, buttons231 for increasing and decreasing volume of sound coming from thespeaker 227 or earphone jack 225, a hand-held remote control 239, and awireless antenna 223 for receiving input from the remote control 239.The standard television 213 also includes a recessed panel 219, behindwhich is a set of controls for fine tuning channels, adjusting color,fixing horizontal and vertical stability, etc. (These controls are notshown.) The standard television 213 also includes input jacks 237,output jacks 235, a VHF antenna 215, a UHF antenna 217, other jacks 241such as for connecting to a cable television service, and a power cordwith plug 239. In an alternative embodiment, the power cord is replacedby a battery pack (not shown). Alternate embodiments include otheroptional features typical of television sets (not shown) such as, butnot limited to, special connections for cable, video, audio, VCR,Internet, WebTV®, CD, DVD or TiV® devices. Alternate embodiments includethese optional features in the television set itself (not shown) alongwith control pads for them (not shown).

[0125] The TV Phone set-top box 201 shown in FIG. 2, includes inputjacks 207, output jacks 205, a power cord with plug 209 and a wirelessantenna for transmitting data to and receiving data from the TV Phone101.

[0126] The connection cord 211 connects from an output jack 235 of thetelevision 213 to the input jack 207 of the TV Phone set-top box 201 aswell as connecting the output jack 207 of the TV Phone set-top box 201to the input jack 237 of the television 213.

[0127] The TV Phone set-top box may sit on top of the television, ornext to it or somewhere close. In an alternate embodiment, the TV Phoneset-top box 201 is built into the television set 213. In an alternateembodiment, the TV Phone set-top box is built into another applianceconnected to the television, such as, but not limited to, a cabletelevision set-top box, a satellite TV set-top box, a VCR, a CD player,DVD player, a gaming console like the Sony Playstation, a TiVo player(or Replay player) that allows delayed viewing of television shows byincorporating digital storage such as a hard disc, a Web TV set-top box,or other Internet appliance.

[0128]FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic view of the present invention. Undernormal operation of the television set 213, designated also as thetelevision receiver 303 in FIG. 3, a television signal is transmittedfrom a television station 301 to the television set 213 eitherwirelessly, through the air or through a conduit such as a televisioncable, or fiber optic line, or some combination. The television setpicks up the signal through antenna 215 and 217 or an input jack 241.Within the television receiver 303, the signal is routed to a TV tunercard 305 which processes the signal. The images in the TV signal 307 aresent to the monitor 309 (also designated in FIG. 2 as the screen 221)and the sound sent to the speaker 227 and earphone jack 225 (shown inFIG. 2 but not in FIG. 3). (Some units have more than one speaker, orhave stereo speakers.) Signals that come over the blanking interval,such as closed captioning for the hearing impaired, are displayed on aportion of the monitor such as the lower right comer of the screen 311.(In other embodiments, these signals may be displayed on other ordifferent portions of the screen.) The blanking interval currentlyaccommodates various signals besides closed captioning. In thisembodiment, the blanking interval includes a telephone number that canbe called for certain information, such as with advertisements. Thisnumber is displayed 309 and the number is also sent to the SetTop Box317. An icon is displayed alongside the telephone number on the lowerright comer of the screen 309 which indicates that it is accessible viathe TV Phone. In some embodiments, the icon is displayed without thetelephone number, in other embodiments, the telephone number isdisplayed without the icon. In other embodiments, the location on thescreen for display of phone numbers or icons differs.

[0129] When the telephone number (actually, data which contains thetelephone number) is sent to the SetTop Box 317, it is transferred to awireless transmitter 319 in the SetTop Box 317. In a preferredembodiment, the wireless transmitter 319 uses parts of the infraredelectromagnetic spectrum. In other preferred embodiments, the wirelesstransmitter uses other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, such asthose used by the BlueTooth® wireless protocol. The wireless transmittertransmits the data containing telephone number. The data is received bythe wireless receiver 323 in any nearby TV Phone 321. When such a signalis received, the TV phone 321 loads the number into an auto-dialer 327and activates a display light 325. (In an alternate embodiment, the TVPhone 321 beeps or emits an audible sound, when the signal is received.)When the user presses a specific button 329 on the TV phone keypad 333,the autodialer 327 will be activated. This causes the wireless phone 331portion of the TV phone 321 to access the wireless phone service 337(e.g., a cell phone network) by dialing the number that had beenreceived from the TV Station 301 over the blanking interval signal andpassed from the Television Receiver 303 through the SetTop Box 317 tothe TV phone 321. If the number is not busy, the user may talk throughthe microphone 323 of the TV Phone 321 to parties at the other end, ormay enter data using the keypad 333.

[0130] The TV phone 321 also can be used as a remote control for theTelevision Receiver 303. When used as a remote control, the keypad 333of the TV Phone 321 activates the circuitry of encoding and circuitryassociated with a TV remote control device 334 which is built into theTV Phone 321. The TV remote control circuitry 334 transfers its data toa wireless transmitter 335 which sends that data to a wireless receiver315 in the Television Receiver 303. The wireless transmitter 335 in theTV Phone 321 uses a different portion of the electromagnetic spectrum asthe wireless transmitter 319 in the SetTop Box 317. (An alternateembodiment of the present invention uses the same portion of thespectrum or the same protocol for communication over such spectrum.) Thewireless receiver 315 receives data for changing a channel, increasingor decreasing volume of audio, powering the system on or off, or thelike, in the same manner it receives data from a standard TV remotecontrol device, and then forwards the commands to the TV tuner card 305,which executes the desired operation.

[0131] In FIG. 4, the TV Phone only transmits phone signals for a shortdistance, such as in a home cordless phone system. The TV Phone does nottransmit the signal directly to the phone service 337, but rathertransmits the phone signal to a wireless receiver 341 built into theSetTop Box 317. This SetTop Box 317 operates like the base station of ahome cordless telephone. The SetTop Box 317 is connected to the phoneservice 337 and the wireless receiver 341 transfers the telephone signalfrom the TV Phone 321 to the phone service 337. Other elements of thesystem, such as the television receiver 303 and the wireless transmitter319 in the SetTop Box 317, are the same as in FIG. 3.

[0132] In FIG. 5, the TV Phone incorporates a speech recognition module351 as an input device in addition to a keypad 333. In this embodiment,commands and data entries can be accomplished by speaking into themicrophone 332. The speech recognition module 351 translates the spokenwords into data commands that are recognized by the wireless phone 331or the TV remote control module 334 as appropriate. For example, thecommand “SEND” is a command for the wireless phone, whereas the command“SWITCH TO CHANNEL 5” is a command for the TV remote module. Otherelements of the system are the same as shown in FIG. 3.

[0133]FIG. 6 shows the same configuration of TV Phone as in FIG. 3,except that the user has hooked up a typical WebTV type device 361 tothe television. The wireless receiver 315 is connected to the WebTV typedevice 361, which is connected to the monitor 309 and an InternetService Provider 363. The connection to the Internet Service Providercan be via dial-up modem through the telephone system, via cable modemthrough a cable TV network, via a wireless cable network, via asatellite dish, or any combination thereof. A wireless keyboard 365 isalso part of the system. (In alternate embodiments, the keyboard istethered to either the TV or the WebTV type device.) When the WebTVdevice 361 receives data from the Internet Service Provider 363, thedata is displayed on the TV monitor 309. The user can input informationto the WebTV device (e.g., by clicking on hyperlinks or by typinge-mail) using the keyboard 365 or the TV remote 367. In an alternateembodiment, the wireless receiver for the WebTV is distinct from thewireless receiver for the TV receiver's remote control. In an alternateembodiment, the wireless receiver for the WebTV 315 is physicallylocated in the housing of the WebTV device 361.

[0134] Input to the remote control module in the TV Phone 321 (not shownin FIG. 6, but shown as 334 in FIG. 3) and the keypad in the TV Phone321 (not shown in FIG. 6, but shown as 333 in FIG. 3) control the WebTVdevice in the same way as the TV remote 367 (also shown as 239 in FIG.2) and keyboard 365.

[0135] Other elements of the system shown in FIG. 6 are the same asshown in FIG. 3.

[0136]FIG. 7, shows an alternative embodiment in which the WebTV typedevice 361 is located in the housing of the TV Phone SetTop Box 317. Thedata flows are the same as in FIG. 6, except the physical location ofthe WebTV type device has moved. Other elements of the system shown inFIG. 7 are the same as shown in FIGS. 6 and 3.

[0137]FIG. 8, shows an alternative embodiment in which the WebTV typedevice 361 is located in the housing of the TV Receiver 303. The dataflows are the same as in FIG. 6, except the physical location of theWebTV type device has moved. Other elements of the system shown in FIG.8 are the same as shown in FIGS. 6 and 3.

[0138]FIG. 9, shows an alternative embodiment in which the televisionreceiver 303 is connected to a cable television network via a cable TVbox 391. The television tuner card 305 receives broadcasts from the TVstation 301 through the cable network and the cable TV box 391, ratherthan through an antenna 215 or 217. In all other respects, elements ofthe system shown in FIG. 9 are the same as shown in FIGS. 6 and 3.

[0139]FIG. 10, shows an alternative embodiment in which the WebTV typedevice 361 is located in the housing of the cable TV box 361. The dataflows are the same as in FIG. 9 and 6, except the physical location ofthe WebTV type device has moved. Other elements of the system shown inFIG. 10 are the same as shown in FIGS. 9, 6 and 3.

[0140]FIG. 11 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention inwhich the TV Phone contains a wireless spatial mouse 395 that operateswith a WebTV type device 361. The WebTV device 361 may be located in thetelevision receiver housing 303, in the TV Phone SetTop Box housing 317,in another housing such as a cable TV set-top box 391, or by itself asin FIG. 6. As the user moves the TV Phone in space, the gyroscopicsensors in the wireless spatial mouse 395 sense the change in positionand send that change wirelessly to the wireless receiver 315. Thewireless receiver transfers the data on the change in position to theWebTV type device 361 which causes a cursor to move on the monitor (309in FIG. 6). The user can “select” items on the screen, i.e., perform“mouse clicks”, by clicking one or more of the keys on the TV Phonekeypad 333. The click is transmitted though the wireless spatial mouse395 to the wireless receiver 315 and thence to the WebTV type device361, which records and reacts to the mouse click. Other elements of thesystem shown in FIG. 11 are the same as shown in FIGS. 6 and 3.

[0141]FIG. 12 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention.Data flows from the TV Station 301 to the Television Receiver 303 andthen to the TV Phone SetTop Box 317, in the same manner as in FIG. 3.However, the set-top box does not send the phone number to the TV Phone,but sends the number to an autodialer 401 in the SetTop Box 317. TheSetTop Box 317 sends a signal via the wireless transmitter 319 to the TVPhone 321 that a phone number is available to access. The signal isreceived by a wireless receiver 323 and a display light 325 lights up.If the user wants to access the phone number, the user presses thespecial button 329 on the TV Phone. When the special button is pressed,a wireless transmitter 397 sends a signal to a wireless receiver 399 inthe SetTop Box 317. The autodialer 401 in the SetTop Box 317 makes aphone or data call through the phone service 403 to the phone numberrepresenting a telemarketing service. The phone or data call gives thetelephone number by which the TV Phone can be called by third parties.Then the telemarketing service 405 makes a phone call through the phoneservice 337 to the wireless phone component 331 of the TV Phone.

[0142] The key difference between FIG. 12 and FIG. 3 is whether the userof the TV Phone makes the wireless call, or merely receives the wirelesscall. In some regions or countries, wireless calls are charged only tothe person who dials the call, whereas in other regions or countries,wireless calls are charged only to the person who receives the call. Inother places, both caller and receiver are charged. The commercialviability of the present invention may depend on who is charged for thecall. The different embodiments provide for the different way wirelessphone charges are billed.

[0143] Other elements of the system shown in FIG. 12 are the same asshown in FIG. 3.

[0144]FIG. 13 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the phone number is not transmitted from the television receiver303 to the TV Phone 321. Rather, the phone numbers are transferred fromthe telemarketing service 405 to a data transmission service 407 whichtransmits the data to a wireless data receiver 409 in the TV Phone 321.The user must use the keypad 333 to set which television channel (ornetwork) he or she is watching. Then, when there is a number to bedialed on that channel, the wireless data receiver 409 lights up thedisplay light 325 and transfers the telephone number to the auto dialer327. A particular television network (or channel number) may be airingdifferent advertisements and advertised phone numbers in differentlocalities and time zones. However, the triangulation feature of cellphones that is required by government agencies, such as the FCC toenable emergency units to locate a cell phone caller, can be used todistinguish locations and time zones.

[0145] In any event, as in FIG. 3, pressing the special button 329causes the autodialer 327 to make the phone call. The TV Phone operatesas a TV remote control 334 and 335 as in FIG. 3, but changing thechannels via the built in TV remote 334 tells the wireless data receiver409 which network or local channel is active, and which phone numbers touse.

[0146] Other elements of the system shown in FIG. 13 are the same asshown in corresponding numbered items in FIG. 3.

[0147]FIG. 14 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the phone number is not transmitted from the television receiver303 to the TV Phone 321. Rather, as in FIG. 13, the phone numbers aretransferred from a data transmission service 407 to a wireless datareceiver 409 in the TV Phone 321. In addition, in the embodiment shownin FIG. 14, the TV Phone receives other data from the data transmissionservice, such as e-mail, Internet access, and the like. The data may bedelivered using the WAP protocol or other protocol. The data may bedisplayed on a small LCD screen 111 on the TV Phone (shown in FIG. 1Cbut not shown in the data flows of FIG. 14) or delivered to the user viavoice or audio interface using a speaker 109 (shown in FIG. 1C but notshown in FIG. 14). Because of the small size of the screens in cellphones, more data can be transmitted to the cell phone than can beusefully displayed. For some applications, only portions of the data aredisplayed. For some applications, only text is displayed andaccompanying pictures are not. In current Internet-enabled cell phones,the “excess” information that cannot be usefully displayed is nottransmitted by the data service to the cell phone. The TV Phone 321receives this additional information and transfers it to a specialwireless transmitter 411. When the user presses a special button 413 (orpre-defined combination of other buttons), the data is sent to awireless receiver 415 in the television set. The data is processed byelectronics associated with this wireless receiver (not shownseparately) and then displayed on the television monitor 309. If thedata includes a phone number accessible by the TV Phone 321, this numberis displayed in the lower right corner of the screen 311, whereas thewireless data receiver 409 in the TV Phone 321 places the number inautodialer 327.

[0148] This embodiment does not require the television to have a directInternet connections, but enables a user to have a television monitor(or similarly equipped computer monitor) display information received bythe TV Phone 321, but display that information on a much larger screenthan is possible on a cell phone.

[0149] This transmitter 411 may be combined with other wirelesstransmitters used by the TV Phone 321 such as 335, or may operate ondifferent frequencies or protocols. For example, the wirelesstransmitter 335 that permits the TV Phone 321 to operate as a televisionremote control may operate on an infrared protocol, whereas the wirelesstransmitter 411 may operate using the BlueTooth protocol designed toallow wireless communications among household devices. This descriptionis not intended to limit the included protocols and frequencies, and thescope of the present invention is intended to include other acceptableprotocols for the various functions of the TV Phone 321 which are knownto those skilled in the art.

[0150] Other elements of the system shown in FIG. 14 are the same asshown in corresponding numbered items in FIG. 13.

[0151] As in previous figures, an alternative embodiment includes voicerecognition software (not shown in FIG. 14), so that transmitting thedata from the TV Phone 321 to the television set occurs upon voicecommand.

[0152]FIG. 15 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention, inwhich content, or the electronic address of content, is transmitted fromthe TV Phone 321 to a kiosk 416. The kiosk 416 includes a wirelessreceiver 315 and a monitor 309 as described above, and is also connectedto an ISP 363 as described above. However, unlike previous embodiments,the kiosk 416 also includes a local control device 418 which includes apayment module 420 therein. The payment module 420 tracks usage chargesfor providing content to the display screen. In this scheme, the TVPhone 321 communicates customer identity information, such as thetelephone number of the TV Phone 321, to the payment module 420. Thepayment module 420 inhibits the completion of the process unless thepayment module 420 properly authorizes the TV Phone 321 to use themonitor 309 for viewing content. This embodiment allows a TV Phone userto view content, or the content located at an electronic address,delivered to the TV Phone 321 on a larger screen display (here, monitor309 of the kiosk 416). The TV Phone 321 may be similar to the TV phonesdescribed above, or may be a WAP-enabled phone or an i-mode phone. Thepayment module 420 tracks usage fees and bills the paying partyaccordingly.

[0153] Alternate embodiments of the present invention not only indicatethat a phone number can be called by a display light 325 on the TV Phone321, but also show the phone number in the LCD screen 111 (or otherdisplay screen) of the TV Phone 321.

[0154] Alternate embodiments of the TV Phone 321 include a built-incamera (not shown) to allow the TV Phone 321 to act as a “picturephone,” transmitting video along with the audio.

[0155] Alternate embodiments have a built in GPS device to determine thelocation of the TV Phone 321 in order to help determine which phonenumber is to be dialed or which data code is to accessed. The locationdetermines which time zone the TV Phone 321 is operating from. With thisknowledge, the device only needs to know which station or network isbeing accessed and broadcaster “playlists” provide the rest of theinformation. The location assists the use of the TV Phone 321 to receivephone numbers or data from location-based billboards or other media.

[0156] Alternate embodiments use the other location procedures, such asthe triangulation to determine the location of the TV Phone 321. U.S.Federal regulations have required that such location devices or softwarebe incorporated into cell phones and cell phone networks in order toassist 911 emergency systems.

[0157] Although the present invention has been described as receivingdata primarily from a television set, it may receive data, phone numbersor access codes from other appliances, such as radios. It may receivedata from wireless transmitters in billboards, or other outdoor signs,or other printed or audiovisual media or data sources. The scope of thepresent invention is to enable an individual with a TV phone to accessadditional information regarding other real world objects and eventswith a click of the button or at a verbal command.

[0158] Although the present invention has been described as receivingphone number data over the television blanking interval, it may alsoreceive that data over other intervals, over other portions of thebroadcast or wireless spectrum, over the Internet or other network, oversegregated channels or data streams over a cable television network,along with or over the communications transfer of online or broadcastprogram guides (including interactive program guides), as additionalcoded data along with the standard television signal, over portions ofthe additional spectrum allocated with HDTV (High Definition TV)channels, and other forms, methods and protocols for data distribution.

[0159] Although the disclosure above refers to connecting viewers to“web sites” and “web site addresses,” the scope of the present inventionincludes other non-Internet-type electronic addressing schemes wherein auser inputs a location or address containing desired content and anelectronic network connects the user to the location or address toobtain the content.

[0160] The present invention may be implemented with any combination ofhardware and software. If implemented as a computer-implementedapparatus, the present invention is implemented using means forperforming all of the steps and functions described above.

[0161] The present invention can be included in an article ofmanufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products) having, forinstance, computer useable media. The media has embodied therein, forinstance, computer readable program code means for providing andfacilitating the mechanisms of the present invention. The article ofmanufacture can be included as part of a computer system or soldseparately.

[0162] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changescould be made to the embodiments described above without departing fromthe broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, thatthis invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed,but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of using a telephone device to allow auser to communicate with a remotely located entity, the telephone deviceincluding (i) a button which facilitates communication between thetelephone device and the remotely located entity, and (ii) a wirelessreceiver, the method comprising: (a) an object or a device connected toan object emitting a signal containing a telephone number of theremotely located entity; (b) the wireless receiver receiving the signalemitted by the object or the device connected to the object; and (c) thetelephone device automatically establishing two-way communication withthe remotely located entity upon selection by the user of the button,wherein selection of the button causes the telephone device toautomatically dial the telephone number of the remotely located entity.2. The method of claim 1 wherein the object is a set-top box of a TVsystem, the method further comprising: (d) the set-top box receiving thetelephone number from broadcast signals sent over the TV system, whereinstep (a) is performed by the set-top box emitting a signal containingthe telephone number of the remotely located entity.
 3. The method ofclaim 2 wherein the telephone device is a wireless telephone devicehaving a base station in the set-top box, and the set-top box ishardwired to a telephone outlet, and wherein step (c) is performed byusing the hardwired telephone outlet in the base station of the set-topbox to establish two-way communication with the remotely located entity.4. The method of claim 2 wherein the telephone device is a cellulartelephone device, and step (c) is performed by using a cellulartelephone network to establish two-way communication with the remotelylocated entity.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the automaticestablishment of two-way communication with the remotely located entityin step (c) occurs by: (i) the telephone device automatically dialingthe telephone number of the remotely located entity and communicatinguser identity information to the remotely located entity, and (ii) theremotely located entity using the user identity information to initiatea call to the telephone device.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein theuser identity information is the telephone number of the telephonedevice.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: (d) the userengaging in an audio session with a person or machine at the remotelylocated entity upon establishing the two-way communication.
 8. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the telephone device includes transceivercircuitry associated with normal telephone communication functions whichis separate from the wireless receiver, and the two-way communication instep (c) uses only the transceiver circuitry.
 9. The method of claim 1wherein the object is an outdoor sign or billboard.
 10. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the device connected to an object is a wirelesstransmitter connected to a television, the method further comprising:(d) the television receiving the telephone number from broadcast signalsreceived by the television, wherein step (a) is performed by thewireless transmitter emitting a signal containing the telephone numberof the remotely located entity.
 11. A method of using a telephone deviceto allow a user to communicate with a remotely located entity, thetelephone device including (i) a button which facilitates communicationbetween the telephone device and the remotely located entity, and (ii) awireless receiver, the method comprising: (a) an object or a deviceconnected to an object emitting a signal containing an electronicaddress of the remotely located entity; (b) the wireless receiverreceiving the signal emitted by the object or the device connected tothe object; and (c) the telephone device automatically establishingcommunication with the remotely located entity upon selection by theuser of the button, wherein selection of the button causes the telephonedevice to automatically contact the electronic address contained withinthe emitted signal.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the electronicaddress is a web site address of the remotely located entity, andselection of the button causes the telephone device to automatically goto the web site address of the remotely located entity.
 13. The methodof claim 12 wherein the telephone device further includes (iii) adisplay screen that displays content, the method further comprising: (d)the web site of the remotely located entity displaying content on thedisplay screen retrieved by the telephone device during thecommunication with the remotely located entity.
 14. The method of claim11 wherein the automatic establishment of two-way communication with theremotely located entity in step (c) occurs by: (i) the telephone deviceautomatically dialing the telephone number of the remotely locatedentity and communicating user identity information to the remotelylocated entity, and (ii) the remotely located entity using the useridentity information to initiate a call to the telephone device.
 15. Themethod of claim 14 wherein the user identity information is thetelephone number of the telephone device.
 16. The method of claim 11wherein the telephone device includes transceiver circuitry associatedwith normal telephone communication functions which is separate from thewireless receiver, and the communication in step (c) uses only thetransceiver circuitry.
 17. A method of using a telephone device to viewcontent on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected tothe telephone device, the telephone device including (i) a displayscreen which displays content, (ii) a button which facilitatescommunication of content between the telephone device and a localcontrol device connected to the nearby display screen, and (iii) awireless transmitter, the method comprising: (a) storing content in thetelephone device; (b) displaying the content on the display screen ofthe telephone device; (c) communicating the content from the telephonedevice to the local control device via a signal sent by the wirelesstransmitter upon selection of the button; and (d) the local controldevice receiving the signal and providing the content to the nearbydisplay screen for display thereon.
 18. The method of claim 17 whereinthe local control device includes a decoder, and step (d) furthercomprises the local control device using the decoder to convert thesignal received from the telephone device into a format for viewing bythe nearby display screen.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein thecontent shown on the telephone device display screen is a portion of afull content image, and step (d) further comprises providing the fullcontent image to the local control device for display on the nearbydisplay screen.
 20. A method of using a telephone device to view contenton a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to thetelephone device, the telephone device including (i) a display screenwhich displays content, or a portion thereof, (ii) a button whichfacilitates communication of content between the telephone device and alocal control device connected to the nearby display screen, and (iii) awireless transmitter, the method comprising: (a) storing content, or aportion thereof, and an electronic address of the content in thetelephone device; (b) displaying the content, or a portion thereof, onthe display screen of the telephone device; (c) communicating theelectronic address of the content from the telephone device to the localcontrol device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter uponselection of the button; (d) the local control device receiving thesignal and transmitting a request over an electronic network to retrievethe content from a remote location; and (e) upon receiving the content,the local control device provides the content to the nearby displayscreen for display thereon.
 21. The method of claim 20 wherein thecontent shown on the telephone device display screen is a portion of afull content image, and step (e) further comprises providing the fullcontent image to the local control device for display on the nearbydisplay screen.
 22. The method of claim 20 wherein the electronicaddress is a web site address, the remote location is a web site, andthe electronic network is the Internet.
 23. The method of claim 20further comprising: (f) retrieving the content, or a portion thereof,that is stored in the telephone device in step (a) from a remote source.24. The method of claim 20 wherein the local control device furthercomprises a payment module which tracks usage charges for providingcontent to the nearby display screen, the method further comprising: (f)the telephone device communicating customer identity information to thepayment module; and (g) the payment module inhibiting at least one ofsteps (c), (d) and (e) from occurring unless the payment module properlyauthorizes the telephone device to use the nearby display screen forviewing content.
 25. The method of claim 24 wherein the customeridentity information is the telephone number of the telephone device.26. A method of using a telephone device to view content on a nearbydisplay screen which is not physically connected to the telephonedevice, the telephone device including (i) a display screen whichdisplays an electronic address of content, (ii) a button whichfacilitates communication of the electronic address between thetelephone device and a local control device connected to the nearbydisplay screen, and (iii) a wireless transmitter, the method comprising:(a) the telephone device retrieving an electronic address of contentfrom a remote source, and storing the electronic address in thetelephone device; (b) displaying the electronic address on the displayscreen of the telephone device; (c) communicating the electronic addressfrom the telephone device to the local control device via a signal sentby the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button; and (d) thelocal control device receiving the signal and transmitting a requestover an electronic network to retrieve content at the electronic addressfrom a remote location; and (e) upon receiving the content, the localcontrol device provides the content to the nearby display screen fordisplay thereon.
 27. The method of claim 26 wherein the local controldevice further comprises a payment module which tracks usage charges forproviding content to the nearby display screen, the method furthercomprising: (f) the telephone device communicating customer identityinformation to the payment module; and (g) the payment module inhibitingat least one of steps (c), (d) and (e) from occurring unless the paymentmodule properly authorizes the telephone device to use the nearbydisplay screen for viewing content.
 28. The method of claim 27 whereinthe customer identity information is the telephone number of thetelephone device.
 29. The method of claim 26 wherein the electronicaddress is a web site address, the remote location is a web site, andthe electronic network is the Internet.
 30. A method of using a wirelesstelephone device and a set-top box of a TV system to allow a user tocommunicate with a remotely located entity, the wireless telephonedevice including a button which facilitates communication between thetelephone and the remotely located entity, the set-top box including abase station of the wireless telephone device, the set-top box being incommunication with a telephone system and being connected to atelevision, the method comprising: (a) the set-top box storing atelephone number and causes telephone number information to be displayedon the television; and (b) upon selection by the user of the button, thetelephone device sending a signal to the set-top box to dial thetelephone number, thereby establishing two-way communication between thetelephone device and the remotely located entity via base station andthe telephone system.
 31. The method of claim 30 further comprising: (c)the set-top box prestoring a listing of telephone numbers correspondingto specified television stations, wherein the telephone number dialed instep (b) is the prestored telephone number of the currently activetelevision channel.
 32. The method of claim 31 further comprising: (d)the television station automatically forwarding any received telephonecalls to a telephone number of the remotely located entity.
 33. Themethod of claim 30 wherein the establishment of two-way communicationwith the remotely located entity in step (b) occurs by: (i) thetelephone device sending a signal to the set-top box to dial thetelephone number of the remotely located entity and communicating useridentity information to the remotely located entity, and (ii) theremotely located entity using the user identity information to initiatea call to the telephone device.
 34. The method of claim 33 wherein theuser identity information is the telephone number of the telephonedevice.
 35. The method of claim 30 further comprising: (c) the userengaging in an audio session with a person or machine at the remotelylocated entity upon establishing the two-way communication.
 36. Themethod of claim 30 wherein the telephone system is external to the TVsystem.
 37. The method of claim 30 wherein the telephone system uses theTV system for establishing and maintaining the two-way communication.38. The method of claim 30 wherein the telephone number information isthe telephone number stored at the set-top box.
 39. The method of claim30 wherein the telephone number information is a telephone icon whichindicates that the telephone number stored at the set-top box will bedialed upon selection of the button.
 40. The method of claim 30 whereinthe telephone number information is the telephone number stored at theset-top box and a telephone icon which indicates that the telephonenumber stored at the set-top box will be dialed upon selection of thebutton.
 41. The method of claim 30 further comprising: (c) the set-topbox receiving the telephone number which is stored in step (a) frombroadcast signals sent by the TV system.